---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a reason for the affected…"
description: "\"There is a reason for the affected profession of \" anarchist sympathies\" among Tories and grandees, and of \" libertarian principles\" by Hobbesian yahoo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/christopher-hitchens-117_affected_there-is-a-reason-for-the-affected-profe_355494.jpg"
---

#  There is a reason for the affected profession of "…

![“There is a reason for the affected profession of &quot; anarchist sympathies&quot; among Tories and grandees, and of &quot; libertarian principles&quot; by Hobbesian yahoos of the right. Among the former, one sees the upholding of the view that a gentleman's business and property are his own, and none of the…” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/christopher-hitchens-117_affected_there-is-a-reason-for-the-affected-profe_355494.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/christopher-hitchens-117_affected_there-is-a-reason-for-the-affected-profe_355494.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/christopher-hitchens-117_affected_there-is-a-reason-for-the-affected-profe_355494.jpg)

> “There is a reason for the affected profession of " anarchist sympathies" among Tories and grandees, and of " libertarian principles" by Hobbesian yahoos of the right. Among the former, one sees the upholding of the view that a gentleman's business and property are his own, and none of the government's. Among the latter, a distaste for democracy, for taxation, and for the need to consult others about the planet.”

[Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote contrasts two political attitudes: Tories who protect private property from government, and libertarians who reject democratic involvement and taxation, both driven by self‑interest and distrust of collective decision‑making.

**In simple terms:** It points out that both groups share a desire for personal control and a dislike of government interference.

Key Takeaway

Recognize how personal liberty can blind us to communal responsibilities.

Themes

politics individualism government libertarianism conservatism

Mood

skeptical analytical

Type

political philosophical

When to use this quote

- policy debates
- political campaigns
- public discourse
- citizen activism

Key Concepts

property rights taxation democracy social contract

Questions to Reflect On

- How does personal liberty balance with societal obligations?
- What are the risks of rejecting democratic processes?

A Different Perspective

These views may overlook the benefits of collective action and shared resources.

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[Anarchist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anarchist/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Distaste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distaste/) [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Profession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profession/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Taxation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxation/)

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